Practical guide
How to report
If you believe you have been a victim of financial fraud, acting quickly can make a difference. This guide explains the steps you can take, the bodies to contact, and how to contribute to the portal to alert other citizens.
1. Before reporting: gather evidence
Before filing any complaint, it is essential to gather as much documentation as possible:
- —Screenshots of conversations, emails, and contracts.
- —Records of bank transfers or cryptocurrency movements.
- —Names, phone numbers, and social media profiles of the alleged perpetrators.
- —URLs of the platforms or websites involved.
- —Any document proving a relationship with the entity (contracts, invoices, etc.).
2. Report in Canada
AMF — Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec)
The regulator overseeing financial markets in Quebec. File complaints about investment fraud, unregistered brokers, or companies operating without authorisation.
lautorite.qc.ca · File a complaint
BCSC — BC Securities Commission
Regulates securities and investment services in British Columbia. Report fraud, investment scams, and suspicious companies.
bcsc.bc.ca · Report fraud
IIROC — Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
National self-regulatory organisation for investment dealers. Handles complaints about IIROC-registered firms and their representatives.
iiroc.ca · Complaints
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
National body for reporting fraud, scams, and cybercrime. Accepts complaints about investment fraud and financial scams.
antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
3. Report internationally
FCA — Financial Conduct Authority (UK)
If the company operates in the UK market or uses a .co.uk domain, you can report it to the FCA. It maintains a public register of authorised firms and a warning list.
fca.org.uk · Scamsmart / Report a firm
ESMA — European Securities and Markets Authority
European authority overseeing securities markets. Coordinates with national regulators of EU member states.
esma.europa.eu
Europol
For fraud with a transnational dimension or involving organised crime. Complaints are channelled through national police forces.
europol.europa.eu
IC3 — Internet Crime Complaint Center (USA)
For fraud involving entities or individuals in the United States.
ic3.gov
4. How to contribute to this portal
In addition to reporting to the relevant authorities, you can help warn other citizens by submitting a report through our form. When doing so, please keep in mind:
- —Be as specific as possible: exact company name, website domain, and description of the incident.
- —Do not include personal data about yourself that you do not wish to make public.
- —Do not include personal data about third parties that is not strictly necessary.
- —Ensure the information you provide is true to the best of your knowledge.
5. Protect yourself from recovery fraud
People who have already been victims of financial fraud are particularly vulnerable to a second type of fraud: asset recovery fraud. This involves third parties — posing as lawyers, regulators, or platforms like this one — who offer to recover your money in exchange for an upfront payment.
Warning signs of this type of fraud:
- —They contact you without you having requested it.
- —They ask for an upfront payment to 'process' the recovery.
- —They claim to have agreements with regulators or law enforcement.
- —They guarantee full recovery of your money.
- —They pressure you to act quickly or in secret.